Integrated
Wedge Christie
Level 1
ALPINE ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
Integrated Activities: Integrate two or more of the Technical Fundamentals through all turn phases to achieve prescribed ski performance.
Description:
Linked medium radius turns that begin in a gliding wedge and finish with a christie turn characterized by skis on corresponding edges in a skidded turn. The matching of skis from wedge to parallel in a christie, is the result of the inside ski’s edge change occurring after the turn has begun and continued steering of both skis simultaneously. Turn shape is used to control speed while promoting glide.
Terrain:
Steeper groomed green or easy groomed blue runs
Ski Performance:
- Turns are initiated by both skis being tipped and turned down the hill. The outside ski changes edges and the inside ski’s edge angle decreases to nearly flat. The outside ski is steered into the turn at a faster rate than the inside ski resulting in the skis being on opposing edges in a gliding wedge.
- Through the shaping phase, the inside ski changes edges as both skis are steered through the turn. The inside ski gradually matches the outside ski in a parallel relationship as the tips come apart and the skis come slightly closer together into a parallel hip width stance.
- Both skis continue turning parallel through the skidded arc creating a christie turn.
Body Performance:
- The wedge, christies, and natural matching are controlled by the relationship between the path of the Center of Mass and the path of the skis.
- The Center of Mass is in between the skis during wedge portions of the turn.
- The Center of Mass moves from between the skis to one side of both skis to assist with matching.
- The Center of Mass is on one side of both skis during the christie portions of the turn.
- The legs will turn inward slightly adduct during the wedge and the inside leg will turn outward to create the christie.
- Lines across the shoulders, hips, knees, and feet are parallel with each other during the christies.
Speed:
Faster than a wedge turn, and slower than a basic parallel turn. Slow enough at the initiation to not allow the skier to make a parallel turn entry due to the lack of external forces to balance against. Fast enough through the shaping and finish phases to support a parallel turn.
Related Activities
Level 1 – Integrated
Level 2
ALPINE ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
Integrated Activities: Integrate three or more of the Technical Fundamentals through all turn phases to achieve prescribed ski performance.
Description:
Linked medium radius turns that begin in a gliding wedge and finish with a christie turn characterized by skis on corresponding edges in a skidded turn. The matching of skis from wedge to parallel in a christie, is the result of the inside ski’s edge change occurring after the turn has begun and continued steering of both skis simultaneously. Turn shape is used to control speed while promoting glide.
Terrain:
Steeper groomed green or easy groomed blue runs
Ski Performance:
- Turns are initiated by both skis being tipped and turned down the hill. The outside ski changes edges and the inside ski’s edge angle decreases to nearly flat. The outside ski is steered into the turn at a faster rate and the skis open slightly after resulting in the skis being on opposing edges in a gliding wedge.
- Through the steering phase, the inside ski changes edges as both skis are steered through the turn. The inside ski gradually matches the outside ski in a parallel relationship as the tips come apart and the skis come slightly closer together into a parallel hip width stance.
- Both skis continue turning parallel through the skidded arc creating a christie turn.
Body Performance:
- The wedge, christies, and natural matching are controlled by the relationship between the path of the Center of Mass and the path of the skis.
- The Center of Mass is in between the skis during wedge portions of the turn.
- The Center of Mass moves from between the skis to one side of both skis to assist with matching.
- The Center of Mass is on one side of both skis during the christie portions of the turn.
- The legs will slightly adduct during the wedge and abduct to create the christie.
- Axes across the shoulders, hips, knees, and feet are parallel with each other during the christies.
Speed:
Faster than a wedge turn, and slower than a basic parallel turn. Slow enough a the initiation to not allow the skier to make a parallel turn entry due to the lack of external forces to balance against. Fast enough through the shaping and finish phases to support a parallel turn.
Related Activities
Level 2 – Integrated
Level 3
ALPINE ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
Integrated Activities: Integrate the Technical Fundamentals through all turn phases to achieve prescribed ski performance.
Description:
Linked medium radius turns that begin in a gliding wedge and finish with a christie turn characterized by skis on corresponding edges in a skidded turn. The matching of skis from wedge to parallel in a christie, is the result of the inside ski’s edge change occurring after the turn has begun and continued steering of both skis simultaneously. Turn shape is used to control speed while promoting glide.
Terrain:
Steeper groomed green or easy groomed blue runs
Ski Performance:
- Turns are initiated by both skis being tipped and turned down the hill. The outside ski changes edges and the inside ski’s edge angle decreases to nearly flat. The outside ski is steered into the turn at a faster rate and the skis open slightly after resulting in the skis being on opposing edges in a gliding wedge.
- Through the steering phase, the inside ski changes edges as both skis are steered through the turn. The inside ski gradually matches the outside ski in a parallel relationship as the tips come apart and the skis come slightly closer together into a parallel hip width stance.
- Both skis continue turning parallel through the skidded arc creating a christie turn.
Body Performance:
- The wedge, christies, and natural matching are controlled by the relationship between the path of the Center of Mass and the path of the skis.
- The Center of Mass is in between the skis during wedge portions of the turn.
- The Center of Mass moves from between the skis to one side of both skis to assist with matching.
- The Center of Mass is on one side of both skis during the christie portions of the turn.
- The legs will slightly adduct during the wedge and abduct to create the christie.
- Axes across the shoulders, hips, knees, and feet are parallel with each other during the christies.
Related Activities
Level 3 – Integrated
Why is this useful?
Not only is the Wedge Christie a traditional skiing task for ski instructors, it develops the awareness and ability to tip and turn the feet/legs independent of each other and separate from the upper body. Most skiers will pass through a phase in their skiing development where their movements create a spontaneous Wedge Christie-like turn. This activity can help instructors become more skillful coaches to skiers in this zone.
Teaching / Learning Cues
Practice Wedge Turns, Spontaneous Christie, and Guided Uphill Arc as development steps.
Practice Wedge Christie turns on gentle terrain at speeds appropriate to the novice zone.
Initiation phase cues:
- Center of Mass stays over Base of Support laterally and fore aft.
- Subtle extension of the knees can be used through the initiation and early shaping phase of turn to assist edge release and change as well as move COM forward to maintain relationship with base of support.
- As edges begin to release, use subtle turning of both legs to direct ski tips down the hill
Shaping phase:
- As forces of turn move pressure to outside ski, begin to increase rate of tipping and turning of inside ski to turn in to parallel relationship with outside ski. Hint: think of pivoting the inside ski under the boot, trying to turn the whole ski, as opposed to just pulling the ski and leg toward the outside ski (bringing the tail in).
Late shaping to finish phase:
- Continue to turn both skis on as flat of edge as possible. Use skidding and turn shape to keep speed slow and controlled.